Odd term, I know. But that's what I saw recently in a forum. A guy wanted to buy a VA for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. He asked for the monthly rate. He was posting via a job forum because he wanted to get the VA direct rather than through an agency which doubles the charges (his words, not mine). That made me wonder if people think engaging a VA through a VA Network means they're paying higher rates and I want to let you all know that 'no, you're not'. When a Virtual Assistant registers … [Read more...]
Do you need a VA in your region?
One of the great things about VA Directories that are international is the ability to seek a VA in your own country or region. Recent posts I've written have been about sourcing a VA in Australia (because that's where I live) but what about in your own country, if you are elsewhere? While it is true that a lot of work can be done by a VA anywhere in the world, there are also some good reasons why you might want to consider a VA in your own region. And they include the following: Being aware … [Read more...]
Where do you get your VA from?
There's been interesting discussions in Australia and the US via the various VA forums, about businesses outsourcing offshore versus inside their own shores. We feel that it is often important to do business with people who know how business is done in one's own country, and all that entails with respect to legalities, taxes, IP, and so on for many of the services provided. Not all, but many. A VA colleague recently came across an article in the US that discusses those same things and the … [Read more...]
Benefits of outsourcing locally
Couldn't have put it better myself. Great article here published with smallbusiness yahoo November last year. It is very true that businesses do struggle to get everything done, and if they spend their funds on employing staff and having to put in place all the things that go with that, office space, equipment, furniture, and the employee overheads of sick and holiday leave, superannuation, taxes, etc, it's no wonder they get strapped for cash. But it does make sense to outsource your needs. … [Read more...]
Tips for working with a Virtual Assistant
One of the biggest delay factors in getting work completed for a client, is the delay in getting complete and accurate information. If incomplete information is given then we have to wait for you to get back to us if we leave a phone message or send an email with a query about what needs to be done. It's important to remember that we don't share the same head space that you do so you need to give the complete story, not just the bit that you want done. It is amazing how often I might get asked … [Read more...]
Referrals, Testimonials and Professional Ratings
There appears to be a new trend of asking people, via LinkedIn, to give you a testimonial, recommendation or professional rating. Now, that would be OK if the person asking had actually done some work for me, or worked with me on a project, and I had personal experience of their work-style and ability. But, increasingly, I'm getting people asking me who I've never worked with. How could I possibly know what their work ethic is like or how they achieve things? When participating in an online … [Read more...]
How do I become a Virtual Assistant?
This is a question I get asked from time to time, via email, and I thought I'd answer it here. One of the very first things I notice when I get this request, is how the email is written. Some write the email well and professionally but others write to me like they might be writing to a family member or even similar to text speak on mobile phones. I can say that not writing the email professionally instils little confidence for me that the person writing is going to be able to manage a VA … [Read more...]
Sign it off!
I'm amazed at how many emails I receive where people don't sign off properly. It might be a client, a colleague, a friend but all people who are in business. I use a signature block all the time, and when I hit reply to an email it automatically appends. It also automatically shows when I create a new message. If someone wants my phone number, it's there, same with my website to click on, or even my Facebook Page, LinkedIn profile and Twitter account. They don't have to forage around, looking … [Read more...]
“Work at Home” Day
Ken & Lucy from LightFM were chatting about Thursday 9th May being 'Work at Home' Day. They were inviting listeners to text in and vote for one or the other as to who should be working at home on that day. Ken, at one time, was encouraging listeners to vote for him and he mentioned 'having a day off'. My ears pricked up at that. I was on the road at the time so found a safe spot to pull over so I could text him and let him know that working at home does NOT mean having a day off. It means … [Read more...]
